How to Make a Sheep Show Fitting Stand

Breeders fit, groom and show sheep in contests with the use of a fitting stand. A fitting stand is a platform that stands 10 inches high and is made of wood or metal. A metal arm that comes out of the stand holds the sheep's chin. Build your own show fitting stand using standard construction lumber. Use metal pipe and connector joints to build the metal arm for securing the sheep to the stand.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • 2 pine boards, 2 by 6 by 43 inches
  • 2 pine boards, 2 by 6 by 23 inches
  • 4 pine boards, 4 by 4 by 10 inches
  • Plywood, 3/4 by 26 by 43 inches
  • Screw gun
  • 40 wood screws, 3-inch
  • Metal pipe, 1 by 30 inches
  • Metal T-joint, 1 inch
  • 4 metal pipes, 1 by 3 inches
  • 2 metal elbows, 1 inch
  • Drill
  • Carbide drill bit, 1/8 inch
  • Drill bit, 1 inch
  • Metal pine, 1/8 by 2 inches
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set two 43-inch boards on edge, parallel and 23 inches apart. Set two 23-inch boards between them at right angles on edge and space them so they are flush with the ends of the 43-inch boards. Screw through the 43-inch boards and into the ends of the 23-inch boards. Use 8 screws for this task.

    • 2

      Position a 10-inch board perpendicularly inside each corner of the frame you created in the last step. These are the legs to your sheep show fitting stand. Screw 4 screws through each corner and into each leg.

    • 3

      Turn the sheep fitting stand frame upright and lay plywood on top of the frame so the edges are flush with the sides of the frame. Screw the plywood to the frame using 16 screws, 4 for each board on the frame.

    • 4

      Screw the 30-inch pipe into the base joint of the T-joint. Screw the 3-inch pipes into the top joints in the T-joint. Thread the elbow joints onto the 3-inch pipes so they open away from the 30-inch pipe, and screw the last two 3-inch pipes into the elbows. These metal pipes will hold your sheep's neck.

    • 5

      Drill a 1/8-inch hole through the 30-inch pipe, 1 inch away from the end opposite the end with the 3-inch pipes. This hole is perpendicular to the T-joint. Measure 13 inches away from each 43-inch edge on the frame and 3/4 inch away from one of the 26-inch edges, and drill a 4-inch-deep, 1-inch hole. Drill a 1/8-inch hole through the 23-inch board and into the 1-inch hole, 3 inches away from the top edge of the 23-inch board.

    • 6

      Insert the metal pipe into the 1-inch hole and position it so the 1/8-inch holes are aligned. Insert the pin through the holes to secure the pipe. Set your sheep on the stand and set its chin on the pipes that are screwed into the T-joint. Tie your sheep to the pipes to keep it secured to the stand.